Leicester City should rival Fulham for Wolves' Ivan Cavaleiro
Leicester City will likely be in the market for a Riyad Mahrez replacement this summer.
(https://tbrfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GettyImages-897621044.jpg)
Leicester City are set to see one of their star players depart the King Power Stadium this week as flying winger Riyad Mahrez edges closer towards a £60 million move to champions Manchester City.
According to The Telegraph, Pep Guardiola will finally land his man this week after failing in his quest to sign the Algerian during the January transfer window and it will be interesting to see just how Mahrez gets on at his new club.
The 27-year-old's pending departure away from the East Midlands-based outfit will leave boss Claude Puel with a void to fill out wide and a replacement could come in the shape of a Wolverhampton Wanderers winger who is set to be in demand this summer.
According to Team Talk, Ivan Cavaleiro has been told he can leave the reigning Championship champions this summer and although Fulham are thought to be very keen on the player, it shouldn't stop Leicester going head-to-head with the Cottagers for his signature.
The 24-year-old boasts blistering pace, a keen eye for goal and breathtaking skill and those attributes make him an ideal candidate to replace the very similar Mahrez.
The Portuguese attacker would probably be available for a fraction of the funds recouped by selling Mahrez and replacing him on the cheap would leave plenty of cash available to spend on other areas of the squad too.
French boss Puel will be under pressure to start the next campaign on a high following a poor finish to 2017/18 and it really is vital that his squad recruitment goes according to plan this summer.
https://tbrfootball.com/leicester-fulham-cavaleiro/
Fulham's contract extensions are the perfect start to an ambitious transfer window
The Cottagers have signed two key players to new deals this week.
(https://tbrfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GettyImages-962740504.jpg)
Over the past week, Fulham announced some fantastic news. No, not new signings, but the next best thing.
Two of the Whites' most valuable players, Tom Cairney and Tim Ream, extended their contracts and secured their futures at Craven Cottage.
Both are fundamental to Fulham's swaggering, possession-based style, and their new deals hopefully represent a teaser for the Cottagers' ambitious transfer window to come.
Although the club still has not signed a transfer target yet this summer, the new deals should give supporters reason to remain optimistic.
While rumours of new transfers swirl anew as the World Cup enters its closing stages, Fulham have done the reasonable thing and solidified their current squad before looking to expand in the transfer market.
Cairney signed an improved five-year deal that keeps him at the Cottage until 2023, a richly-deserved contract that rightly put to bed the links with West Ham United.
Fulham's captain is at the heart of everything the club does and is one of the team's longest-serving players. He served admirably through the relegation-threatened season in 2015/16 and became one of the best players in the Championship the following season.
He promised Fulham fans promotion and achieved it a year later, scoring the priceless goal in the play-off final that sent the Whites up.
Tim Ream has been just as influential in Fulham's promotion heroics and was rewarded with a fresh two-year deal. Signed in the same season as Cairney, Ream has turned himself into not only the best defender at the club, but the best player.
The centre-back enjoyed a career season in 2017/18, gracing the pitch with his cool, calm, collected, and commanding performances. Always strong in the challenge, imperious in the air, and assured in his distribution, Ream justifiably won the club's Player of the Season award by a landslide.
Now that Ream and Cairney are tied down in SW6 for the foreseeable future, Fulham can enter into the Premier League with their promotion-winning spine intact.
Tony Khan and the club hierarchy should be applauded for fending off outside interest and keeping their best players at the Cottage, moves which are just as valuable as expensive signings.
But Fulham fans will no doubt be itching for marquee purchases in addition, and hopefully the new deals for Tom Cairney and Tim Ream are a precursor for intelligent investment in the coming weeks.
https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-contract-extension-perfect/
Seating and standing available for Fulham fixture
Royals meeting Cottagers in Aldershot
We have an allocation of seated tickets available for this weekend's pre-season friendly fixture against Fulham at Aldershot's EBB Stadium, while standing tickets will only be available to purchase on arrival on matchday.
600 seats are available for Royals supporters, and they can be booked online at readingfcdirect.co.uk, in person at Madejski Stadium, or by ringing our Ticket Office on 0118 968 1313 (option 1).
If any seats remain unsold, they will be available to buy on the day as well. All standing tickets will be purchased on arrival.
It's a 1.30pm kick-off on Saturday 14th July against Slaviša Jokanović's charges, who are building up to a Premier League season after earning promotion via the play-offs this summer.
And for the Royals, it's the last fixture before jetting off to Austria the following day for a pre-season training camp and games against Beşiktaş and Rubin Kazan.
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/july/seating-and-standing-available-for-fulham-fixture/
Jean Michael Seri and Alassane Plea targets for Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are in talks with Nice over the signings of Jean Michael Seri and Alassane Plea, according to Sky sources.
Both Seri and Plea played under Dortmund manager Lucien Favre when he was manager at Nice.
Chelsea and Fulham remain interested in Seri, whose preference is to move to the Premier League. He almost joined Barcelona last summer when Raul Sanllehi - head of football relations at Arsenal - was in charge of recruitment at the Nou Camp.
Manchester City have also been keeping tabs on Seri but their top target has remained Napoli midfielder Jorginho - and talks continue over his proposed move to the Etihad.
Seri has one year remaining on his current contract at Nice and it is understood that the Ivory Coast international has a £35m release clause, which is in place until July 15.
Dortmund are also interested in Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, according to Sky Sources. The German club are expected to follow up that interest with an offer once the deal to take Andriy Yarmolenko to West Ham United is finalised.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11899/11431839/jean-michael-seri-and-alassane-plea-targets-for-borussia-dortmund
Chelsea and Arsenal stunned as Fulham seal Jean-Michael Seri deal - Gianluca Di Marzio
CHELSEA and Arsenal have been left trailing in Fulham's wake after seeing their London rivals tie up a deal for Jean-Michael Seri.
That is the stunning claim of transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, who has broken the news on Twitter this lunchtime.
Seri is one of the hottest properties in world football with a cluster of top clubs keeping tabs on his performances at Nice.
Barcelona tried to buy the 26-year-old midfielder last year, while Chelsea and Arsenal have been credited with strong interest in him this summer.
Seri was spotted in London over the weekend, with speculation over a Premier League switch ramping up as a consequence.
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Chelsea and Arsenal stunned as Fulham seal Jean-Michael Seri deal - Gianluca Di Marzio
Di Marzio, who has forged a reputation as a transfer insider, says the Ivory Coast international is on his way to Fulham.
"#Seri from @ogcnice to @FulhamFC: deal done *tick emoticon* @SkySport @SkySportsNews," wrote the Sky Sport Italia reporter on Twitter.
Fulham are in need of top level recruits following their promotion to the Premier League as Championship play-off winners.
And the prospective capture of Seri will add some much-needed depth to their already strong midfield department.
Seri's potential move to Fulham will come as a blow to Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as West Ham, who've also been linked with the Grand-Bereby-born ace.
Fulham may have got themselves a bargain too, with Seri's agent, Franklin Mala, revealing last month that he has a relatively modest release clause by today's standards.
"The €40m (£35m) termination clause expires on July 15, so you have to pay it by this date," said Mala. "After July 15, Nice can ask for any amount.
"Arsenal? No, I do not want to talk about it. There are two teams of the Premier [League] on Seri. I cannot say anything else. Image rights are not an obstacle."
Napoli were linked with a swoop for Seri to replace Jorginho but have since bought Fabian Ruiz from Real Betis.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/986567/Chelsea-Arsenal-Fulham-Jean-Michael-Seri-Deal-Gianluca-Di-Marzio
Fulham set to sign Jean-Michaël Seri in club-record £35m deal
Fulham are set to sign OGC Nice midfielder Jean-Michaël Seri in a club-record £35m deal.
The midfielder had reportedly been attracting interest from Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, though is set to move to Craven Cottage after the West London outfit activated his £35m release clause.
Seri, who could line up in central midfield for the Cottagers alongside captain Tom Cairney, will be viewed as huge coup, and equally could represent Fulham's sole acquisition in an immensely inflated transfer market.
Seri had been expected to move to one of the Premier League's leading clubs, and therefore Slavisa Jokanokivc will be unquestionably delighted to be bringing a player of Seri's calibre to the club.
If Fulham are able to retain the services of star players Ryan Sessegnon and Cairney, alongside adding quality in the form of players such as Seri, though could be set to truly compete for a place in the 2019/2020 season, though for now the world will unquestionably be shocked at this £35m outlay from a newly promoted team: a high risk strategy, though if Seri performs and stays injury free, it could be a masterstroke from the Fulham hierarchy.
https://90maat.com/2018/07/10/fulham-set-to-sign-jean-michael-seri-in-club-record-35m-deal/
Fulham steal Jean Seri signing from under Chelsea's nose
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Fulham are signing Jean Michael Seri
Italian transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio has posted a huge piece of transfer news on Tuesday.
From seemingly nowhere, Fulham have stolen in to sign Jean Michael Seri from Nice.
Did Fulham see Seri standing around on the King's Road as Chelsea twaddled their thumbs and lost the deal?
Di Marzio has reported on Twitter that Jean Seri to Fulham is a 'done deal'.
Fulham are reportedly stumping up 20 million euros to sign Seri.
Last season 26-year-old Seri chipped in with 7 goals and 9 assists for Nice.
Fulham are just waiting on Seri's visa to go through before the deal will be made official.
Since publishing this article, there have been contrary reports on the Seri-Fulham deal.
Jean Seri & Chelsea
The huge question which everyone will now be asking is what happened to Chelsea?
News broke on Monday night that Jean Seri has signed a pre-contract with Chelsea.
Long rumoured to make an exit from Nice, Chelsea appear to be at the front of the queue to sign the Ivory Coast international.
However rumours also spilled out that Chelsea could be about to lose a grip on Seri.
Paris United noted the Seri-Chelsea deal was in doubt because of Roman Abramovich.
It's been well-documented in the press that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been denied a visa to continue living in the UK.
As a result, Roman Abramovich recently moved his residence to Israel. In doing so he's quickly become the richest Israeli in the world.
Paris United believed that Abramovich's visa problems could impact on the Jean Seri deal.
Has that proven to be true?
https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/fulham-steal-jean-seri-signing-from-under-chelseas-nose/
'Deal done' – £40million star snubs Arsenal and Chelsea to seal surprise Premier League transfer
Fulham have reportedly won the race to seal the transfer of Nice midfielder Jean Seri ahead of rumoured suitors Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Ivory Coast international was claimed by journalist Nabil Djellit (via the Daily Star) to have been in London this week for transfer talks, with Arsenal and Chelsea mentioned as clubs based in the capital that he'd been in touch with.
Seri has been one of the top performers in Ligue 1 in the last few years and looks a player most top clubs would want to have in their ranks, but Gianluca Di Marzio now claims his move to Fulham is a done deal.
The newly-promoted side may well have pulled off something very impressive here, though official confirmation of the move is yet to emerge.
Bringing in the 26-year-old would be a real statement by Fulham as they look to establish themselves in the Premier League again after a four-year absence.
Beating off big-name competition to such a classy player would be huge for the club's hopes of securing survival in the top flight and perhaps even give them a good chance of breaking into the top half.
(https://www.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/jean-seri-nice.jpg)
Jean Seri looks set to seal a transfer to Fulham
It's a big blow for Arsenal and Chelsea, however, both of whom finished outside the top four last season and both of whom have major issues in midfield, with the former just recently losing Jack Wilshere at the end of his contract, while the latter has made a string of poor signings in that area in recent times in the form of Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ross Barkley.
Seri could have strengthened either of those London giants significantly, so to see reports that he's headed for Fulham certainly come as a surprise.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/07/10/jean-seri-to-fulham-shock-arsenal-chelsea-transfer-snub/
Fulham set to acquire Seri: the figures
After being pursued by multiple teams including Roma and Napoli, Jean Michael Seri is set to join Fulham. The Ivorian midfielder will arrive in England by tomorrow, the deal was reached with Nice on the basis of around €20 million. Seri is ready to start the next chapter of his career in the Premier League
https://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/fulham-set-to-acquire-seri-the-figures
Fulham Reportedly Beat out Chelsea, Dortmund, Arsenal to Jean Michael Seri Deal
Fulham have reportedly completed the transfer of Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri amid competition from Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, who were also pursuing a deal.
Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport reported the news of Seri's potential move to Fulham after French journalist Manu Lonjon (h/t the Daily Star) had said the Blues had struck terms with Seri.
Di Marzio added that the two sides agreed a fee of "around €20 million."
Earlier in the day, Ed Aarons of the Guardian reported that Borussia Dortmund were poised to meet the player to discuss a switch, while Arsenal had also been linked to the midfielder, via Harry Howes of the Daily Star.
According to the Daily Star, Seri has a £35 million release clause in his contract that is set to expire later this summer.
In three seasons at Nice he's made major developments as a player. As these numbers illustrate, not only is he always seeking to get on the ball, Seri rarely gives possession away:
Seri's playmaking abilities next to someone like N'Golo Kante, who is a midfielder who seeks to disrupt rather than distribute would have made him a fine purchase for the Blues before Fulham's stunning coup.
With that in mind, James Robson of the Manchester Evening News said last month that Seri is a player Manchester City have looked at:
Given Fulham's resources compared to their rivals for Seri's signature, if they are able to get the move across the line, it would be a major boost to their efforts to remain in the Premier League after gaining promotion.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2785302-chelsea-reportedly-face-borussia-dortmund-competition-for-jean-michael-seri
Exclusive: Agreement reached between Nice and Fulham, but Seri not keen on move
With a €40m 'release clause' due to expire on July 15th, it's no surprise to see a hubbub of activity surround Jean-Michael Seri at the moment.
On Monday, claims of a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea were denied to Sport Witness, and we were told the most realistic option would be Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
This was picked up by a number of outlets in France, including local newspaper Nice-Matin, but another suitor has appeared out of nowhere: Fulham.
Needing midfielders ahead of their return to the Premier League, the Cottagers have, according to France Football, even gone as far as make a €20m bid for the 26-year-old.
A few minutes later, Gianluca Di Marzio shocked many by revealing a deal was done between Nice and Fulham for around €20m, and the player should join his new club in the next 24 hours or so.
However, Sport Witness have been told by a source close to the deal that while an agreement has indeed been reached between the two sides for Jean-Michael Seri, the midfielder isn't keen on a move to Craven Cottage.
Things move quickly in the transfer market, and we certainly haven't heard the end of this. Fulham may have to be very convincing.
http://sportwitness.co.uk/exclusive-agreement-reached-nice-fulham-seri-not-keen-move/
Chelsea target heading to Fulham in sensational twist
Chelsea look set to miss out on transfer target Jean Seri with the Nice midfielder sensationally on his way to Fulham, reports Gianluca Di Marzio.
Seri has entered the final 12 months of his current Nice deal and the Ligue 1 side want to sell this summer rather than losing him for free at the end of next season.
The Ivory Coast international came close to joining Barcelona last summer before the Spanish side sensationally pulled the plug on a deal at the death.
Seri has a £35m release clause but Fulham have sensationally agreed a deal with their French counterparts in the region of €20m (£17.7m).
Fulham still need to agree personal terms with the 26-year-old and Craven Cottage is not Seri's preferred destination.
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Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Seri since the end of last season but will not intensify their interest until they resolve their managerial position.
The Premier League giants are also reportedly trying to hi-jack Manchester City's move for Napoli ace Jorginho, which would all but rule out a move for Seri.
Only Marco Verratti (92.7) averaged more passes per Ligue 1 game than Seri (86.3) last season.
https://www.whoscored.com/News/kfJBFrmKlUCvB6kC6ySJnA/Show/Chelsea-target-heading-to-Fulham-in-sensational-twist
Arsenal And Chelsea Could Lose Out To Fulham In Race For French League Star
Fulham are on the verge of signing Jean-Michael Seri from Nice according to reports from Italy.
The midfielder had been linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs as well as Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund but it appears that newly promoted Fulham may have won the race for his services.
The Ivory Coast star was reportedly available for around £20million and recently Chelsea FC looked like winning the race for the player who had also been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.
Seri joined Porto in 2012 but he didn't force his way into the first team despite a string of impressive performances for the reserve team.
He then moved on to Paços de Ferreira the following year on a free transfer and developed a reputation as a cultured midfielder with the abiilty to control the game with his variety of passing.
Nice came in for him with an offer of around £1million in June 2015 and he developed into one of his country's star performers.
Barcelona were linked with a move for him last season.
It looked like Chelsea would win the race for the player's signature, especially when he was spotted in London earlier this week.
But this represents a huge coup for Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic with the Cottagers ready to pay a fee of around £18million for the player. Fulham won plenty of admirers with the attractive attacking football last season and won promotion to the Premier League thanks to a Play-off Final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.
https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/arsenal-and-chelsea-could-lose-out-to-fulham-in-race-for-french-league-star
Chelsea and Arsenal target set for shock Fulham move
Chelsea and Arsenal target Jean Michel Seri is set to seal a shock move to London rivals Fulham.
The midfielder has become one of the most wanted midfielders across Europe and had drawn links with Barcelona last summer. Last season, the Ivorian impressed for Nice, appearing 31 times in the Ligue 1, scoring twice and assisting five times.
Sky Italia report that Seri is set to join Fulham this summer, with the Premier League club having agreed a fee of 20 million euros with Nice.
Also pursued by Napoli and Roma, Seri will travel to England tomorrow to agree personal terms with the London based and will also undergo a medical at the Craven Cottage ahead of a move.
https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/chelsea-and-arsenal-target-set-for-shock-fulham-move-59531
Fulham confident of signing midfielder Jean Michael Seri from Nice after agreeing £18m fee for Chelsea target
Fulham are confident they can complete a deal for midfielder Jean Michael Seri
The Nice player has been linked with a host of top European football clubs
Chelsea and Arsenal were rumoured to be interested, along with Barcelona
The 26-year-old has applied for a visa and is expected to make an £18m switch
Fulham are confident of signing Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri after agreeing a fee with his club.
The 26-year-old has applied for a work visa and is expected to join up with Slavisa Jokanovic's side for £18million despite interest from Sevilla, West Ham and Chelsea.
Work is still to be done however, with the club wary that rivals could offer the player a better deal.
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Fulham are confident of signing Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri after agreeing a fee
There is an awareness that other clubs, such as Chelsea, may be held up in their transfer dealings.
The Blues are yet to make any movements in the transfer market as they continue to deal with their managerial situation.
Antonio Conte is soon expected to depart the club, with Maurizio Sarri set to take over.
Fulham are also working on deal for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sweden international Ludwig Augustinsson from Werder Bremen.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5937949/Fulham-confident-signing-midfielder-Jean-Michael-Seri-Nice.html
Fulham win race to sign Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri?
Fulham have reportedly won the race to sign midfielder Jean-Michael Seri from Nice.
Over the past 12 months, Seri has been linked with a number of European football's top clubs, including several sides in the Premier League.
Seri has recently been spotted in London and it led to suggestions that Chelsea or Arsenal could be the Ivorian's destination but according to Sky Sport in Italy, the two English giants have been edged out by Fulham.
The Cottagers have only just secured promotion to the top flight but the report has suggested that Fulham will pay £17.7m to complete the signing of the 26-year-old.
Seri has spent the last three seasons in the South of France with 12 goals being scored in 103 league appearances.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/fulham-win-race-to-sign-jean-michael-seri_330268.html
Tottenham have missed a trick with Seri
With OGC Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri reportedly close to signing for newly-promoted Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur have made a huge error.
As reported by trusted Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Seri is very close to signing for Spurs' London rivals Fulham.
A few weeks ago, as reported by The Sun, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United were all said to be interested in the Ivorian midfielder.
If the 26-year-old does indeed complete his reported move to Craven Cottage, Spurs should feel embarrassed that they've let such a talented player slip through their fingers.
Mauricio Pochettino needs another creative central midfielder in his squad for next season. As he looks to mount a title challenge in the upcoming campaign, the Argentinian will need players who can open up opposition that defend deep and to do that you need excellent passers in midfield who can find players in small gaps between defenders.
That's what the midfielder pass-master could have provided. In 43 appearances for the French Ligue 1 side last season, he provided 10 assists and scored two goals, which prove his creative capabilities (TransferMarkt). He also proved his immense passing accuracy last season, achieving an average pass completion rate of 87.6% after attempting 3152 passes (WhoScored).
This is a player of Champions League quality, who could have given Spurs something different and made them a more creative team. Now though, with the player reportedly off to Fulham, they've lost that opportunity and will have to pay a lot more for a player of his type later on down the line. For Slaviša Jokanovic's side, it's a tremendous signing.
Daniel Levy can't let many players like this slip through his fingers because if they genuinely want to challenge for the top honours over the next few seasons, they need to add to their squad with quality, which is what Seri would have provided.
https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/07/blogs/tottenham-have-missed-a-trick-with-seri/
Who is Jean-Michael Seri and could Fulham beat Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham to sign him?
Have Fulham won the race for Ivorian midfielder?
According to reports, Fulham are closing in on a move for Jean-Michael Seri
The Nice midfielder has had an excellent couple of seasons in Ligue 1 which has seen them challenge in the upper echelons of the table both times and that, in turn, has seen their star man linked with a move away.
Last summer, he was close to securing a move to Barcelona but it collapsed at the 11th hour and he stayed in France. He wasn't as prolific last season as he was the one before but it has not diminished his value.
Seri bagged only two goals in 30 Ligue 1 games last campaign and helped himself to five assists. However, that did not put off a number of Premier League clubs.
And with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham reportedly interested in his signature, it would be something of a coup were Fulham to confirm the rumours that he had signed for the Craven Cottage outfit.
Gianluca di Marzio, Sky Sports Italy reporter tweeted today that a deal was done between Nice and Fulham for a fee in the region of £25million.
However, Get French Football have followed that up by saying that Fulham is not the player's preferred destination, with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea his preferred alternatives.
It's going to be a case of watch this space with regard to his future. But who is Jean Seri? We thought we'd take a look at the 26-year-old's career
Career so far
Jean Seri started his professional career with Africa Sports - a club based in the Ivorian city of Abidjan.
From there, the midfielder made the move to fellow Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas, before moving to Porto's reserve side in November 2012.
After 19 appearances and one goal for Porto B, Seri moved to Pacos de Ferreira in August 2013 where he would spend two years with the club.
In June 2015, the midfielder made the move to Nice - where he has enjoyed some brilliant success in Ligue 1.
(https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article14755702.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Jean-Seri.jpg)
Jean Michael Seri (Photo by Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)
Stats behind his last two seasons
Describe Jean Seri's 2016/17 campaign in one word? Impressive.
And even that probably doesn't do it justice.
The midfielder managed six goals and nine assists in a brilliant season for Nice which has helped them battle right at the top of Ligue 1.
Add that to his 64 chances created and his 90% pass accuracy, and you start to see why some of Europe's top clubs are chasing the 25-year-old.
It dropped off a bit in 2017/18 where he scored just two goals but managed five assists. He did have an impressive passing accuracy rate of 90.2% for Nice last season.
Is he an international?
Yes, he is.
Seri's first international call-up came in 2014 - but his first cap wasn't until 2015 for the Ivory Coast national side.
Since then, the midfielder has made 18 appearances for his country, scoring two goals.
Will he fit the bill at Fulham?
Going off the last two seasons, he absolutely will.
There aren't many sides in the world that can afford to turn down a player of Seri's obvious quality to create and score chances from the centre of midfield, while still being a capable asset defensively.
There's a reason the likes of Barcelona and PSG are also interested...
https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/who-jean-michael-seri-could-14889768
No deal yet for Jean Michaël Seri to join Fulham from OGC Nice
Gianluca di Marzio reported this lunchtime that a deal was done for Ivorian midfielder Jean-Michaël Seri to join Fulham.
Nice-Matin however claim that there is absolutely no deal in place, with the player's agent having informed RMC and Sport Witness that whilst talks are ongoing with Fulham, the Premier League side does not represent the player's favoured destination.
OGC Nice were understood to be seeking a deal worth €40m, which is why rumours of a deal around €20m are particularly surprising.
http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2018/no-deal-yet-for-jean-michael-seri-to-join-fulham-from-ogc-nice/
Stuart Gray Departs(http://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/staff/rexfeatures_8983803ck.jpg?w=622&h=278)
Fulham Football Club has today announced the departure of First Team Senior Coach Stuart Gray.
Stuart joined the Club in December 2015 and, before taking up the position of Senior Coach, he took caretaker charge of the First Team for five fixtures prior to the appointment of Slaviša Jokanović. His final game in charge was a 4-1 win at home against Rotherham United.
Stuart said: "It is with great sadness that I leave Fulham. When I started as coach in 2015, I was excited by the ambition of the Club to return to the Premier League. I am proud to have helped the Club achieve that goal and I am grateful to the Chairman and Tony Khan for the opportunity.
"I would like to thank Fulham, the players, staff and fans who have made my time here so enjoyable. Although I am disappointed to leave, I am looking forward to finding my next opportunity in football.
"I would like to wish Fulham the very best this coming season in the Premier League."
An important part of the First Team backroom staff last season which culminated in a Play-Off Final win at Wembley in May, the Club would like to thank Stuart Gray for all his hard work and service and wishes him all the very best for the future.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/10/stuart-gray-departs
Jean Seri to Fulham done deal claims refuted/player 'favours other clubs'
As per a report from RMC Sport journalist Loic Tanzi, Jean Michael Seri has not agreed to join Fulham, contrary to previous claims.
African talent
Seri, an 18-time capped Ivory Coast international, was one of the standout performers in Ligue 1 during the 2016/17 season, as Les Aiglons secured a shock place in the playoff round of the Champions League.
Controlling proceedings from the middle of midfield for the entirety of his side's stellar campaign, the diminutive 26-year-old playmaker racked up 7 goals and 9 assists, catching the eye of some of Europe's biggest sides in the process.
Suitors
All of Barcelona, Tottenham, AS Roma and PSG were subsequently linked with moves for Seri last summer, with the Blaugrana having even reached a deal with Nice, before pulling the plug on the transfer at the last minute.
Seri has since spoken out on several occasions regarding his immense disappointment at his dream move to the Camp Nou falling through in such agonizing fashion, with Barca having instead opted to bring in Paulinho from Guangzhou Evergrande last summer, and Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in January.
Despite having struggled to make quite as impressive an impact this past season as he did last, Seri's signature is nevertheless once again being fought for by several European giants, with all of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Napoli named as admirers of the Nice star's talents.
Blues' move
A report courtesy of RTL journalist Christian Ollivier last month even went as far as to claim that Chelsea were in 'advanced talks' with Seri over a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, with Blues' owner Roman Abramovich having personally chosen the African midfielder as an ideal signing:
Imminent?
Though it was initially thought that Ollivier's claim was wide of the mark, with the likes of Napoli and West Ham having since been touted as more likely landing spots, a number of updates yesterday evening insisted that Chelsea remained the clear favourites to land Seri.
After Yahoo Sports backed the story that the African midfielder is in 'advanced talks' with the Blues, Euro United subsequently went a step further, by claiming that Seri had in fact already signed a pre-contract agreement with the capital giants.
Craven Cottage bound?
As such, it was widely viewed as a mere formality that Seri would make the move to Stamford Bridge over the coming days or weeks.
However, in a shock twist this afternoon, highly-reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio posted a bolt from the blue on Twitter, revealing that Fulham had not only taken the lead in the race for Seri, but the Cottagers had in fact secured a deal for the Nice star:
But, in what is quickly becoming one of the sagas of the summer, Loic Tanzi of RMC Sport has since claimed that, though the clubs are in negotiations, no agreement has been reached, with Seri favouring other destinations:
https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/seri-fulham-refuted/
Away Days: Part ThreeFulham fans Jack Collins and Ian McCulloch look ahead to a quartet of mouth-watering away days, at Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal.(http://ffcw001.azureedge.net/-/media/history/pa-8162297.jpg?w=350&h=250)
Jack Collins: Chelsea v Fulham (Stamford Bridge) – Saturday 1st DecemberHome of the auld enemy, Stamford Bridge is one of the away days you know the most about, considering the pubs and bars you'll be drinking in are probably the same as the ones you would for a game at the Cottage. Always nice to remind any Chelsea friends you might have that the ground was originally built for Fulham, but we didn't want to lose our Cottage home. Second best then, second best now. Fulham haven't had the best time up the road in recent years, with the last time we won at the old dog track way back in 1979 in a Division Two game, but word on the street is that it's a brilliant place to be an away fan if you can come away with all three points. The old Shed End, once one of the most feared terraces in football, houses away fans in the south-east corner, which is a strange paradox in itself, but views are decent from pretty much whatever part of the stand you're housed in. Whisper it quietly, but the rebuilt Bridge is a decent ground - concourses are spacious and considering it's in walking distance and the wait for a win there has been so long, there's the potential for a plucky underdog to come up trumps.
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Ian McCulloch: Manchester United v Fulham (Old Trafford) – Saturday 8th DecemberIt might be full of tourists, you might have to fight your way up from the south with the bulk of their fans, you might have to put up with the overwhelming superiority complex that the whole place exudes, but at the end of the day, this is one of the greatest stadia in the world belonging to the world's richest club. It is an amazing experience, and not to be missed. It's impossible not to be there and marvel at the sheer scale and magnificence of it all. I wouldn't want to go there every week, I prefer my football-watching experience to be a bit more down-to-earth, but it should definitely be on everyone's bucket list. I missed the Inamoto-inspired 3-1 thrashing, but I was there for Fulham's first ever Premier League game that might have turned out very differently if it hadn't been for some very questionable home-spun refereeing, and I was also present for the 1-0 Cup defeat in 1999. John Salako's miss that day still haunts my dreams.
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Jack Collins: Newcastle United v Fulham (St James' Park) – Saturday 22nd DecemberFulham's furthest away day of the year sees the Whites make a familiar journey to the North East to return to a spot that brought so many happy memories back in 2017, St James' Park. If the idea of Ryan Sessegnon getting to silence a crowd of 50,000 Geordie supporters again isn't enough to spark your interest, then let me put it this way - Newcastle is one of the most vibrant, exciting cities in the UK and the chance to spend even a day there should rarely be passed up if possible. Whilst potentially troubling for those with vertigo, the climb to the top of the Leazes Stand gives way to one of the most breathtaking views in football, with the pitch giving way to the Northumbrian skyline beyond. Newcastle remains one of the best away days going, with fantastic pubs dotted across the city and a raucous St James' Park atmosphere. Make a weekend of it if you can, you won't regret it.
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Jack Collins: Arsenal v Fulham (Emirates Stadium) – Tuesday 1st JanuaryWhilst heavily criticised for its lack of atmosphere and the struggles Arsenal have had with their premium tier, the Emirates has its plus points as well as the negatives. There's plenty of space for away fans, and padded seats as well; but the nature of a shallow lower tier stand means that views aren't always as perfect as you'd hope them to be. And remember that food inside the Emirates will burn a hole in your pocket. The Emirates is well-served by the tube, with the trip across London on the Piccadilly Line the preferred option, landing in Holloway Road or Arsenal; or else Highbury & Islington provides another walkable landing spot. Holloway Road has its fair share of decent pubs - the Coronet, although occasionally a partisan spot, is a Wetherspoons converted from an old cinema, the Horatia is a busy, solid sports pub, and across the way the Drayton Arms was always the away supporters' zone. Given it'll be New Year's Day, you'd imagine it'll be a friendly enough but bustling atmosphere, and hopefully one to remember from a Fulham perspective.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/10/away-days-part-three
Fulham: Jean Michael Seri deal the coup of the summer
A midfielder worthy of building a team around, Fulham will pull off the coup of the summer if they can somehow get this over the line.
If reports from DiMarzio are to be believed, recently promoted Fulham have pulled off one of the transfer coups of the summer with the imminent signing of OGC Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri.
The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international has been linked with a number of top European clubs over the last year, with Barcelona rumoured to have seen him as a long-term successor to former midfielder Xavi. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have all also been linked at various points over the last year, moreover.
While the deal is not yet complete, it seems as though Seri could be lining up for Slavisa Jokanovic's Cottagers this coming Premier League season. So, what should fans expect from him?
The archetypal midfield metronome
First of all, fans should not be expecting a lot of goals. Though any transfer fee is likely to be a big one, Seri is not a blockbuster, 15-goal-a-season midfielder. His top tally for a campaign was seven in 2016/17, accounting for half of the goals scored in his last five years at club level.
But Seri is the sort of midfielder you could build a team around.
While translating form from Ligue 1 to the Premier League has been an issue for some players in the past, if Seri makes the step up he could become the beating heart of this Fulham side.
KEY STAT: Jean Michael Seri averaged 2.1 key passes per game in Ligue 1, completing 90.4% of his passes.
This is because Seri's greatest asset from midfield is his ability to create. He's made more chances than any other Nice player in the previous two seasons - 74 in 2016/17 and 65 in 2017/18 - and this degree of inventiveness from midfield is something potential striker Aleksandar Mitrovic would benefit from.
Just imagine Ryan Sessegnon, similarly, beating a defender one-on-one and side-footing home after being thread through by Seri. One can dare to dream.
Avoiding N'Golo Kante comparisons
The Premier League is a different beast entirely to the Championship. Take Bournemouth as an example. They won promotion using a possession-based style of football, but enjoyed just 48.5% of possession last season.
Fulham can't expect to see the same amount of ball (57.8%) as they did in the second-tier. Ultimately, the Premier League forces clubs to accept the status quo and, as a mid-table challenger, that's playing on the counter against a majority of teams.
Seri, however, isn't the greatest defensive contributor. But at five foot eight and moulding himself around creativity, you wouldn't necessarily expect him too.
Whilst he isn't the tenacious tackling and intercepting machine int he mould of N'Golo Kante - to whom comparisons will inevitably be drawn - his stature has resulted in the development of a similar style in possession.
KEY STAT: Seri ranked outside Nice's top ten in terms of tackles (0.8) and interceptions (0.8) made per Ligue 1 game.
He is not tall or particularly strong, but his low centre of gravity and excellent touch help him keep control of the ball when challenged by more physically imposing opponents.
Compatibility to Slavisa Jokanovic
To continue the Bournemouth comparison, Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic earned promotion employing an attacking style of football and he's expected to continue that as best as possible in the Premier League.
Seri, therefore, is an extremely desirable player due to his compatibility to Jokanovic's footballing philosophy. For instance, the Ivorian is an able dribble, particularly in congested areas, and his number one priority is typically to move the ball forwards.
KEY STAT: Seri made 1.2 dribbles per game for Nice in 2017/18.
Moreover, he shouldn't have any systematic issues, having frequently played in a 4-3-3 at Nice.
Resilient against pressing, capable of turning defence into attack, and responsibly assured on the ball, Seri looks like an excellent capture for anyone, let alone a newly promoted side.
https://realsport101.com/news/sports/football/fulham-jean-michael-seri-deal-the-coup-of-the-summer/
Southampton holding firm on Targett stance amid Fulham interest
Fulham are growing increasingly frustrated with their pursuit to sign Matt Targett from Southampton and are exploring other alternatives, according to the Mirror.
The Whites are desperate to sign Targett after the left-back impressed during a short-term loan spell at Craven Cottage last term, but it seems they are struggling to convince Saints to sell.
Targett spent the second half of last season on loan with Slavisa Jokanovic's side and played a key role as Fulham secured promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
It's believed that Saints declined the Whites' opening offer of £10m for Targett, with the Mirror again reiterating that the club are not in a hurry to sell one of their brightest young talents.
With talks stalling, it's claimed that Fulham are now being forced to look elsewhere, with Sweden international Ludwig Augustinsson now being lined up.
Targett is currently out in China with the rest of the Southampton squad as Mark Hughes continues to put his side through their paces in preparation for the 2018/19 season.
https://readsouthampton.com/2018/07/10/southampton-holding-firm-on-targett-stance-amid-fulham-interest/
Landing Yann M'Vila would help Fulham retain Premier League status next term
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Fulham fans in the Transfer Tavern can't wait for the Premier League season to begin and our punters are confident they can beat the drop next year.
Slavisa Jokanovic guided the Cottagers to promotion after beating Aston Villa in the playoff final. They earned plenty of praise for their style of football, but it remains to be seen how they will fare after stepping up to the highest level. With a few signings, Fulham will be confident of avoiding relegation.
Jokanovic is yet to make a signing this summer which is worrying with the transfer window closing at an earlier date of August 9 after clubs voted on the matter last season. Strengthening the squad will be vital given the strength of the promoted clubs and the finances available to the Premier League sides. The Cottagers should target a strong, combative midfielder to partner Tom Cairney in the engine room.
The perfect signing could be Saint Etienne midfielder – Yann M'Vila. Valued at £7.2m by Transfermarkt, the Frenchman is no stranger to life in England following a spell with Sunderland back in 2015. The 28-year-old was a key player for the Black Cats, making 37 appearances as they narrowly avoided relegation. The Sunderland faithful were outraged when they decided against making his stay permanent.
He returned to Saint Ettiene after leaving Rubin Kazan in January and made 15 appearances as they finished seventh in Ligue 1. M'Vila is excellent at winning the ball back and has an eye for a pass too; making him a great signing for Fulham.
His experience in the Premier League could be vital in the long-term as they look to maintain their Premier League status. The former France international is nowhere near finished and could turn out to be a fantastic signing.
https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/fulham/landing-yann-mvila-would-help-fulham-retain-premier-league-status-next-term/
Fulham Preparing An Improved £16m Bid For Wolves Winger: Why Jokanovic Should Go All In!
Fulham made it to the Premier League the hard way, that is by winning the playoffs. They had a glorious chance to qualify directly as their rivals Cardiff City had dropped points on the final day and a win for the Cottagers would have seen them through. However, they stumbled and went on to lose against Birmingham City but didn't have to repent that chance as they ultimately made it through by beating Aston Villa in the playoff finals.
Slavisa Jokanovic will be aware that he will need to bring in reinforcements to the squad if they want to carry on their run in the Premier League for long. They are currently being linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Ivan Cavaleiro. The West Midlands outfit won the Championship last campaign and the Portuguese winger played a crucial part in that triumph.
The 24-year-old was a regular feature for his side down the right wing as he racked up 46 appearances in all competitions. He managed a good return of 9 goals and 13 assists. However, Nuno Santo won't mind seeing the player go as Wolves have ambitious plans and are ready to sell him to fund new signings at the club.
The Lillywhites reportedly made a £12m bid for the player, however, it was turned down by Wolves. Along with them, Huddersfield Town are also said to be in the race to sign the player.
However, Fulham are not looking to back down after their initial offer was rejected and are expected to come up with a better offer of £16m for the player.
Cavaleiro was signed by Wolves from Monaco in 2016 and has gone on to be one of the most important members of their squad. He has represented Portugal at various youth levels and has made 2 senior team appearances but is yet to establish himself in the national side.
Fulham are currently lacking in the right winger department. With the exception of the youngster Luca De La Torre, no one can be classified as an outright right winger in the squad. The team will certainly benefit if they manage to sign a player of Cavaleiro's caliber. His acquisition will make them dangerous on both the flanks as Ryan Sessegnon will be expected to play down the left.
The Portuguese has bursting speed and when in form, he is almost unstoppable. The Cottagers will be hoping that their improved offer will be good enough to land him as the player will certainly be a great addition to Jokanovic's squad before the start of the new campaign.
https://the4thofficial.net/2018/07/fulham-preparing-improved-16m-bid-wolves-winger-jokanovic-go/
Cottage Talk Chat With The Guys From Friends Of Fulham
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.
This episode was a chat with Scott Tanfield and John Cummins from Friends Of Fulham. The show began with a discussion on the speculation with Jean Michael Seri. After that, the guys shared their thoughts on the new contracts for Tom Cairney and Tim Ream.
Later on, we talked about the speculation of the potential new contracts for Slavisa Jokanovic and Ryan Sessegnon. After that, we discussed Scott Parker coming back to the club as a coach, and also that Stuart Gray has left the club.
We ended the show by answering a few questions from the listeners. We packed a great deal in this hour plus show, so I think you will enjoy it.
You can also listen to the show on Friends Of Fulham.
to listen, follow the link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/7/10/17556640/cottage-talk-chat-with-the-guys-from-friends-of-fulham
24 Y/O Wolves Winger Now Red Hot On Fulham's Radar: Should Nuno Santo Let Him Leave?
Fulham are in pole position to secure the services of Wolves wide man Ivan Cavaleiro this summer. According to recent reports, the Cottagers are leading the race to sign the Portuguese winger during this summer transfer window. It is believed that the West Midlands outfit are prepared to cash in on their prized asset who signed for them in the summer of 2016 from AS Monaco for a then club-record fee of £7m.
Cavaleiro was an integral member of the Wolves squad which won a promotion back to the English top-flight last season. The Portuguese speedster had scored nine goals and made 12 assists in 42 league matches last season. However, some sources are now claiming that Wolves are ready to sell to him in order to generate some funds for new acquisitions. Nuno Espirito Santo's side has recently declined a £12m bid for Cavaleiro from the Cottagers and Huddersfield Town.
Recent reports have revealed that Fulham are ready to go back in with an improved offer of £16m to try and persuade Wolves to do business ahead of the new campaign. Cavaliero is exactly the kind of talent who can thrive at Craven Cottage under the guidance of Slaviša Jokanović.
The West Midlands side managed to win the Skybet Championship last season and earn a route back to the top tier of English football. However, their focus will now turn towards avoiding the drop next season which means that Nuno Santo needs to make some shrewd additions in this ongoing transfer period to ensure a successful season for the club.
Retaining some of their top players like Cavaleiro could go a long way in helping them survive in the English top-flight but if Santo has a suitable replacement lined up who can improve the Wolves team even more, then it makes sense for them to part ways with the Portuguese international.
At 24, Cavaleiro still has his best years ahead of him which the Wolves should look to benefit from, in the next few years. However, if the player wants to switch clubs as well, then his departure could be a good move for all parties. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Cavaleiro and whether he ends up making a switch away from the Molineaux Stadium before the start of the new season.
https://the4thofficial.net/2018/07/fulham-leading-chase-sign-24-yo-wolves-winger-nuno-santo-let-leave/
22 Y/O Swedish International Red Hot On Fulham's Radar: Good Fit For Jokanovic's Plans?
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Slavisa Jokanovic has a tough task in his hands this summer as he now has to add enough quality to the squad at Craven Cottage to help the side compete with the best teams in the country next season. So it does not come as a surprise that Fulham are linked with some of the finest stars in the game for a move this summer.
One such player they are now interested in is Ludwig Augustinsson.
Born and brought up in Stockholm, the player moved out of Sweden for the first time with Danish side Copenhagen, back in 2015. In his two years at the club, he slowly established himself as an effective left-back, registering some impressive performances in the top flight.
He did enough in his time in Denmark to earn a call-up to the senior national side and Augustinsson turned into a first team star for Sweden in the World Cup recently. He played five games in Russia, also scoring a goal but failed to take his side past England in the quarterfinals. However, reports suggest that Fulham had scouts present, looking over the full-back during the game against England.
It is understood that Augustinsson has impressed the hierarchy at Craven Cottage, who are now ready to push ahead to try and sign him this summer. He is regarded as an alternative for Matt Targett, the Southampton man, who is no closer to joining the Cottagers.
Fulham are desperate to re-sign the 22-year old, who spent the last season on loan with the club in the Championship. He was crucial in Jokanovic's plans as he made 18 league appearances, freeing up Ryan Sessegnon from his defensive duties. However, it is understood that the Saints are in no hurry to sell Targett, pushing Fulham into searching for alternatives.
Augustinsson, who joined Werder Bremen last summer, is now Fulham's top transfer target for this summer. He is strong and athletic, can be effective in the air and is hard to beat on one-on-one situations. He is also an excellent crosser and at just 24, has a bright future ahead of him.
He has no previous experience in England but has enough exposure at the highest level, to help him settle in at Craven Cottage quickly. He might not be the best option available in the transfer market for Jokanovic but if he failed to land Targett, Augustinsson is a decent alternative for the Southampton man.
https://the4thofficial.net/2018/07/22-yo-swedish-international-now-fulhams-radar-good-fit-jokanovic/
Newcastle fans react as Seri seemingly agrees Fulham move
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Fulham have won the race to sign Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, rated at £27m by Transfermarkt.
Seri has been strongly linked with a move away from Nice over the last few months, but the speculation increased when he was left out of the French club's pre-season training camp.
West Ham United and Chelsea have been strongly linked with the Ivory Coast international, whilst Everton and Newcastle United are also believed to be admirers.
Premier League new boys Fulham appear to have won the race, however, in a deal that would certainly sent shockwaves around Europe.
Fulham are seemingly going to pay £35m to sign Seri, and the news has not gone down too well with a selection of Newcastle fans, who feel that the failed deal is just another example of how they cannot compete with their Premier League rivals for big signings.
https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/newcastle-united/newcastle-fans-react-as-seri-seemingly-agrees-fulham-move
Jean-Michael Seri headlines our Rumour Mill as Fulham close in on Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool target
The summer transfer window is open and across the globe there is a frenzy of speculation as players and coaches look for their next moves.
There is plenty of activity and stories that have football fans talking.
Here, we look at the latest transfer deals that could happen very soon.
Let us know your thoughts via Twitter and Facebook.
JEAN-MICHAEL SERI
Fulham have sensationally beaten Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Roma and Napoli in the race to land the Nice midfielder, according to Sky Sport Italy.
The Ivory Coast star, 26, is reportedly set to join the Cottagers in a deal worth £20 million (Dh86m), plus add-ons.
Seri's capture would represent a sizeable coup for the newly-promoted Premier League club who appear to be going from strength to strength under boss Slavisa Jokanovic.
Sources close to Seri have revealed that he sees the Whites as the perfect side in which to kick-start his career in England and wants to be based in London.
http://sport360.com/article/football/transfer-news/293046/jean-michael-seri-headlines-our-rumour-mill-as-fulham-close-in-on-chelsea-arsenal-and-liverpool-target
Ludwig Augustinsson signing could prove smart business for Fulham
The 24-year-old has just starred at the World Cup for Sweden.
(https://tbrfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GettyImages-985269032.jpg)
Over the past couple weeks, Fulham have been linked with a swoop for Werder Bremen left back Ludwig Augustinsson, who recently starred for Sweden in the World Cup.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report's Dean Jones tweeted that the Cottagers were confident of securing a deal for the 24-year-old full-back, a hugely encouraging sign.
The transfer would be one of the best pieces of business Fulham makes all summer, as the acquisition of a top-class left-back allows teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon to play in his favoured left wing position.
Last season, Fulham saw a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes after Matt Targett was brought in on loan during the January transfer window.
(https://tbrfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/GettyImages-985320526.jpg)
(Photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Getty Images)
After the Southampton left back joined the Whites, Ryan Sessegnon was allowed to express himself in an attacking manner, freed from the restriction of a defensive role.
Sessegnon's best performances have come when he has been stationed on the left wing – the remarkable displays against Newcastle United and Sheffield United spring to mind.
The Whites have tried their best to retain the services of Targett but, despite tabling a £10 million bid for the Englishman, Mark Hughes seems unlikely to let the defender leave St. Mary's.
"He had a very good tournament: it took him a moment to arrive, but then he was in good shape. His performances were tactically astute, he was offensive, and he dominated his flank. "
– Werder Bremen coach, Florian Kohfeldt after Augustinsson's World Cup display.
Due to the unavailability of Targett, the signing of Augustinsson takes on renewed importance for Tony Khan and the Fulham recruitment team.
Not only would the Swede allow Sessegnon to operate at his full potential, he also offers an impressive pedigree of his own.
Very much the modern full-back, Augustinsson is as comfortable going forward as he is at the back, known for his set piece delivery and knack for drifting forward into dangerous attacking positions.
This impressive duality was on show during the World Cup this summer, as he was part of a Sweden side that advanced all the way to the quarterfinals while conceding just four goals all tournament.
He also bagged an important goal in Sweden's 3-0 win over Mexico. Not bad for a defender in his first World Cup.
If Fulham manage to secure the signing of Ludwig Augustinsson, they would receive both an exciting left back and a new lease of life for Ryan Sessegnon.
https://tbrfootball.com/ludwig-augustinsson-fulham-summer/
